Thats it...
InZaneFleaArmy
Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 18Members
<div class="IPBDescription">I've had enough</div>I may as well quit mapping altogether. I can't get anything done at all, it takes me 3 months to do 30 min worth of work, and I have no inspiration what so ever. I can't do details, I'm sick of scrapping and redoing, I've never even finished one part of any map for NS, and It ****** me off. I'm sick of ns_collapse and having to completely delete everytrhing I've worked on so I can add a small detail that looks really good. I'm sick of it all. I need a good old map plan that consists of details and such. But I can't do that. And when I do, everyone says my layout sucks (Ns_Breakdown for example...I thought the layout was great, and I spent 2 months in planning on paper.) Unless I can think of something else, this is goodbye. It's been fun (Well, usually) discussing and mapping with you all.
Comments
This may sound silly, but let the past be the past. Take your experiences from it and move on; leave everything else behind.
Oh, and about the forums. Listen to the input you get from others, but trust your own judgement. <i>Always trust your own judgement.</i>
And whatever you do, take it easy!
KT
<!--emo&:)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'><!--endemo-->
Go for it.
Even if your map isn't perfect, the experience alone should be well worth the trouble and effort.
<!--EDIT|ken20banks|Mar. 30 2002,02:32-->
I find mapping extreemly hard, without a decent plan it wont work. You are not alone in your difficulties, especially when with ns there are so many aspects to take into consideration (layout, commander mode, weldable routes, optimised areas for level 5 and bob etc).
"designing a golf course seems fun! at least thos are the sort of projects i enjoy Do it in worldcraft or something"
I already thought of doing it in WC. Cept it's due the day after Spring Break, so I can't ask my teacher if thats ok. That'd rock tho.
Learning architecture and stypes, layouts etc takes a LONG time. Every single mapper, EVEREYONE professional, amateur whatever, gets mental blocks, loses enthusiasm for a map and have time when nothing looks right or seems to work properly. Its just part of the game.
There have been times in my past when i've considered throwing it all in because every map i made looked like a huge pile of ### but that only makes it 10x better when you pull off something that looks great.
Stick with it, its a steep learning curve and once you overcome the difficulties of layouts and balance it gets a LOT easier.
Experiance, Experiance, Experiance.
When I started mapping, I constantly started my maps over and over again because I would pick up new ideas and new ways of doing things. Many times I got mad and threw out the map.
However, I know many people who have started mapping, but just don't work for it. I mean, it just isn't their thing. Heck, I've been mapping for several years and I still don't know how committed I am. If you really don't think mapping is your thing, then maybe it isn't.
For inspiration, play through games thats were i get inspiration or play through half-life again (i know its not amazing mapping but hey...)
Aliens versus Predator 2 is an amazing place to get ideas for corridors and infested rooms (just dont copy the the areas <!--emo&;)--><img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'><!--endemo--> )
me too! now if only i could be bothered finding it
anyway keep mapping but don't map like your on a scedule. i only map when i have ideas. i find mapping when i don't have ideas is counter productive. in my opinion, if you really want to you should have a break so you don't get burnt out. while your having your break read/watch anything you can find. it doesn't matter what it's about. then one day you'll be sitting down reading/watching something and think to yourself 'hey this would work really good in my map'
and then you'll dust off worldcraft and start mapping again.
(well thats how it's supposed to work)
BTW sometimes i'll stop mapping for months at a time because i have mappers block (follow the ideas, if there are no ideas you have no coice but to stop and wait for another one to follow)
Back on topic...if it is frustrating you, give it a break. Come back to it in a week, a month, whatever it takes. Personally I'm hopeless at staying consistent...I seem to have a bout of mapping and then pause for a long time not even being able to open up <s>Worldcraft</s> 'Teh Hammer', cos I just lose all focus on what I am meant to be doing.
I can't really offer much advice in this area for the reason I stated above - I'm horrible at keeping consistent. Maybe if I was being paid to do what I do, yeah, but when you're spending your own time doing it, it sometimes feels like you're getting nowhere, and you start to look at the whole mapping situation as some sort of contest. It's not. You are as good as you can be; you just have to make yourself better! And the only way to do that is through practice, keen interest, and enthusiasim. [/rambling]
<!--EDIT|Merkaba|April 01 2002,12:59-->
Feel better? If not, I'll post a screenshot of my map, ns_crappymappy When I get home.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"><!--QuoteEBegin--> Thats the great thing about the internet. No matter how pitiful you are there is always someone out there worse than you<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> -Somebody
If you love doing the layouts, and hate doing the mapping part, maybe you should concentrate on the game-flow, and create layouts for others? Lots of mappers like working on the visuals, but hate coming up with good layouts.